CONDITIONS OF ‘DECENT WORKING LIFE’
OF STREET VENDORS IN MUMBAI
Debdulal Saha
PhD Scholar
Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Presented inInternational Conference on Regulating for Decent Work (RDW)
8-10 July 2009, Geneva
Organized byInternational Labour Organization (ILO), Geneva, Switzerland
Order of the Presentation
Key Concepts of the paper
Background of the Study
Conceptual Framework
Methodology and Data Sources
Findings
Conclusion
Key concepts of the Paper
Indian labour force and study domain
Street Vendors (10 Million)
Study Location/ Domain
Background of the Study
Street Vendors
Problems Rationale for the Study
Working ConditionDearth of Studies
exploring the concept of Decent Work
No-Institutional Credit accessibility
An Exploration
No Access to Social Security
To explore the condition
Few Active Member-
Based Organization
Role towards Social Security, Credit
Accessibility and any other
Objectives of the Study
1.
To explore the condition of the ‘working life’
of street vendors in Mumbai keeping with their financial accessibility; social security and occupational wellbeing.
2.
To investigate the role of organisations or other member based associations towards regulating for decent work.
Conceptual Framework of the StudyDecent Work
Employment Opportunity
Rights at Work
Social Security Social Dialogue
• Level of Income• Financial Accessibility •Working Hour• Security of Work• Safety and Security at Work Place
• Maternity Benefit• Medical Facility• Children’s Education•Accident• Others
•Discrimination at Work based on Sex
• Role of Member Based Organizations for their Voice, SS and Credit Accessibility and provide them decent working environment
Conditions of above mentioned indicators of street vendors
Decent Working Life
Methodology
Mixed Methodology
Quantitative Method Qualitative Method
Descriptive Analysis Exploratory Analysis
Primary Data
Sampling Design
1st
Stage Unit (Cluster)Dharabi, Jogeswari, Kandivali, Powai, Ville Parle
2nd
Stage Unit (Stratification) 7-Categories of Employment
3rd
Stage Unit (Quota & Random)
Three-Stage Sampling Method
Sample Size= 200 from 5 Places
Findings
Socio-Demographic ProfileIndicators Possible Outcomes Total no. of cases (percentage)
Gender Male 154 (77)Female 46 (23)Total (n) 200 (100)
Religion
Hindu 118 (59.0)Muslim 66 (33.0)Christian 7 (3.5)Sikh 9 (4.5)Hindu 118 (59.0)Total (n) 200 (100)
Caste
General 121 (60.5)SC 49 (24.5)ST 12 (6.0)OBCs 18 (9.0)Total (n) 200 (100)
Educational Level
Illiterate 34 (17.0)Can sign Only 17 (8.5)Primary Education 17 (8.5)Upper Primary Education 65 (32.5)Secondary Education 48 (24.0)Higher Secondary Education 16 (8.0)Graduate 3 (1.5)Total (n) 200 (100)
Income Interval
(Monthly) (in Rs.)
Total No. Of Vendors
(Percentage)
3000-4500 46 (23.0)
4501-6000 27 (13.5)
6001-7500 20 (10.0)
7501-9000 31 (15.5)
9001-11000 22 (11.0)
11001-12500 19 (9.5)
12501-14000 9 (4.5)
14001-15500 12 (6.0)
15501-17000 6 (3.0)
17001-Above 8 (4.0)
Source: Based on primary data where N= 200. Note: 1$= Rs. 47 (During data collection)
Types of the Street Vendors
Types of Occupation Total No. Of
Vendors (%)
Vegetables 66 (33.0)
Fruits 40 (20.0)
Food 22 (11.0)
HH Utensils & Stationary 13 (6.5)
Garments 41 (20.5)
Lather Items 10 (5.0)
Electronics Items 8 (4.0)
Low Investment; High profit
High Investment
Level of IncomeTypes of the
Product
Volume of Investment
Personal Savings
Family or Friends (Without Interest)
Money Lenders
Local Traders/ Retailers
Co-operatives
Organizations
Business Starting
Business Running
Street Vendor
s
Trust
Good Reputation
•Community• Language• Origin• Network• Union Member
Financial Transaction
Sources of Capital
Wholesalers
Conditions of Social Security
Social Security
Program in India
Aim at the protection and promotion of both human and physical capital
Access to Social Security Vendors (%)
Saving in Bank/ Co-operatives 125 (62.5)
Insurance 27 (13.5)
Borrowing 72 (36.0)
Street Vendors
Indebtedness of Street Vendors
Purposes Served by Borrowing Total No. Of Vendors (%)
Business 55 (34.16)
Housing 8 (4.97)
House Rent (Deposit) 15 (9.32)
Send Money to Village 11 (6.83)
Social Security 72 (44.72)Source: Computed by author based on primary data where N=161
Purposes Served by Borrowing
Amount of Borrowing
Business Purposes Social Security
Amount of
Borrowing
Total Sample
(Percentage)
Amount of
Borrowing
Total Sample
(Percentage)
0-10000 28 (50.91) 1000-
20000 37 (51.39)10001-
20000 14 (25.45) 20001-
40000 6 (8.33)
20001-
30000 1 (1.82) 40001-
60000 15 (20.83)30001-
40000 5 (9.09) 60001-
80000 1 (1.39)
40001-
50000 3 (5.45) 80001-
100000 6 (8.33)50001-
60000 2 (3.64) 100001-
120000 4 (5.56)
90001-
100000 1 (1.82) 120001 and Above 3 (4.17)100001 and Above 1 (1.82)Total 55 (100) Total 72 (100)
Social Security Purposes Total No. of Vendors (%)
Family Healthcare and Medicine 22 (30.56)
Maternity Benefits 5 (6.94)
Child Education 18 (25.00)
Daughter Marriage 7 (9.72)
Accident 16 (22.22)
Insurance 4 (5.56)Source: Computed by author based on primary data where N=72
Social Security Purposes Served by Borrowing
Multiple of the Principal Amount Total No. Of Vendors (%)
1-Time 26 (36.11)
2-Times 28 (38.89)
3-Times 11 (15.28)
4-Times 4 (5.56)
6-Times 2 (2.78)
14-Times 1 (1.39)
Source: Computed by author based on primary data where N= 72
Total Interest paid as a Multiple of the Principal Amount
Occupational WellbeingThis study considers Occupational Wellbeing keeping with WorkingHour, Security of Work, Security and Safety at the Work Place.
Working hour of vendors is around 12-14 hours but in case of vegetable vendors, it is miserable (About 18-19 Hours).
There is no sanitation system for them at the Work Place.
No safety and security at Work Place.
They face Constant Harassment from Local police and BMC.
They are paying 15-20 percent of their income as bribes to Local police.
Role of the Member-Based Organizations in Mumbai
Member Based Organizations orTrade Unions
Organizing Social Security
Financial Accessibility
Intermediaries
Vima
Yojana
(LICI)
Group Insurance
•Health Care• House or Property• Accidental or Natural Death• Disability • Scholarship
Individual Help
•State Government• Mumbai District Co-Operatives
•Personal Loan• Educational Loan• Economic Activity
•Each Vendors is share holder of Rs. 10• Working Capital
•Fight for Vendors’
Licensing• Local Police• BMC
Local AuthorityStreet Vendors
Summary
Street Vendors
Credit Accessibility
Social Protection
Working Condition
Member Based Organizations
No Institutional
No Govt. Initiatives
Borrowing Money
Debt-Trap
Decent Work Deficit
Decent Work
Few No. of Active Unions
•Excessive Working Hour• No Security of Job•No Safety and Security at the Work Place
Possibilities
Decent Work Deficit can be Reduced
Local Trade Union/ Member Based Organization
License
Street VendorsAccess to Formal Institution Credit
through Co-operative
Force them to be a part Member of Union
Social Security through different
Stakeholders
☺
Support from ILO/ StreetNet/ International Organizations
Thank You